WMD Thought Chabot Could Do No Wrong

Over the years, I have heard what a conservative saint Steve Chabot has been throughout his long, and storied career in the United States House of Representatives. The headline really isn't much of a stretch as there are some folks in the Greater Cincinnati area who put this guy up as the paragon of all things a Member of Congress ought to be and is.

Don't get me wrong, I like the guy a lot, but stuff like this is just a dumb unforced error.

If anybody on Team Chabot would care to explain why on Earth they thought it was a good idea to have police confiscate cell phones at a Townhall, I'd love to hear it. I can be reached at wmdtvmatt - at - yahoo - dot - com.

OH-01: Chabot Understands What Has Happened to Driehaus

Check out his latest blog entry for the whole story, but after learning that the DCCC has pulled funding for Driehaus, this is the lesson Chabot relays:

So there you have it. The election’s over, right? We’ve got it in the bag. Uh, NO. We’ve got three more weeks of hard work to do. No one rests. No getting complacent. Confidence, yes. Overconfidence, no.

Let’s face it, it all comes down to which candidate gets the most votes BY Election Day, Tuesday, November 2nd, exactly 20 days from today. And although most of the votes will actually be cast on Election Day, up to 40% of the votes could be cast during the 35 day period before the election, between September 28th and November 2nd. In Ohio votes can cast by absentee ballot, or one can go to the Board of Elections at 824 Broadway.

The game is still on...let's run up the score!

DCCC Surrenders OH-01

Today's great news of the day is that the DCCC is pulling its ad buy in OH-01.  It sure looks like the DCCC has read the writing on the wall and decided not use what resources they have elsewhere.  As much as we like to call Zack Space the Accidental Congressman, Steve Driehaus probably deserves the title more...

Bottom line: This is fantastic news for Steve Chabot, a man who has worked hard and worked smart for his return to Congress.

UPDATE:  I just had an idea: Steve Chabot should buy that ad time.  Click here and donate to help Chabot get his message out to even more people!

Driehaus Smears Chabot in Despicable Ad

This ad is disgusting. 



Military honors ought not be a political issue.

Due to Driehaus' pathetic desperation, a number of veterans came together to defend Mr. Chabot.



Here is video from the press conference.



Steve Driehaus ought to be ashamed of himself.

As an aside, some 527 Media outlet ought to get around to asking Driehaus what he thinks about the Leavenworth 10...

OH-01: Libertarian Joins Debates

The Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting that Libertarian candidate Jim Berns will join Congressman Steve Driehaus and former Congressman Steve Chabot for three debates.  Check out the link for dates, times and locations.

Steve Chabot Fund Raiser

Chabot for Congress is hosting Steve Chabot's first ever cornhole tournament this weekend Saturday (6/26) and Sunday (6/27). Please find below a registration form containing more information that must be filled out completely if you would like to play. After you fill it out simply send it to David McCandless at  mccandless.davidl - at - gmail - dot - com. This will be an exciting tournament, and I encourage all of you to come out and have fun this weekend!

Registration Form

Another Driehaus Lie: Franking

Cincinnati Enquirer:

"For a guy who goes around town claiming he's a fiscal conservative, these figures amazingly contradict who Chabot portrays himself to be. He's not a 'fiscal conservative.' He is more like an opportunist politician who says one thing and does another."

In that same news release, Driehaus said: "I pledge to never abuse the franking privilege the way Chabot has done if I am elected to Congress in November."

How much taxpayer dollars did Steve Driehaus just use with the very same franking privlege?  So glad you asked, the answer is: $125,421.

Just another Democrat liar willing to say whatever it takes to get people to vote for him...

Today's Update

We're going to have to put up the Light Posting Alert for the rest of the week as work is just kicking me in the behind...

Here are a few items you need to know about...

OH-15: Steve Stivers is gearing up for another run at Mary Jo Kilroy. The Hill reports that Steve has given himself a July 4th deadline to decide if he is in... My guess is that we should all prepare for Round Two.

OH-05: Rep. Bob Latta on the GOP Health Care Plan:

“The House Republican Health Care Solutions Group, under the leadership of Congressman Roy Blunt, have produced a common-sense plan to reduce costs, expand access, and increase the quality of care in a way that America can afford. As the Obama Administration and Democrat Congressional leadership continue to hint at nothing short of big government medicine for the United States, this plan ensures private citizens’ health care is not dictated by federal bureaucrats. I look forward to working with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to pass meaningful reform that guarantees health care in the United States remains the best in the world.

NOTE: Details on the House Republican plan can be found here.

OH-01: In this week's blog post, Steve Chabot talks about how ABC has become the All Barack Company.

Carnival of Ohio Politics: This week's issue is up!

Buckeye Institute: Did you know that the estate tax is killing 58,000 jobs in Ohio? Read all about that here.

The One Where Kyle Gets Me Thinking

Kyle has a post up over at his place that asks all kinds of questions about virtually every race that matters in Ohio...

I want to take a shot at a few of his questions, but I also think it is worth pointing folks in his direction for some of his thoughts as well...

Why did Kasich wait so long?

I really have no idea...but I will be thrilled to finally see him off the bench and in the game... My source close to the campaign has said that the Fox News contract might have made a difference a year ago, but not so much these days. No, I don't know what that means either...

Will Kasich engage the press after the 6/1 announcement?

Again, I sure hope so...somebody has to hold T-Shirt Ted accountable and our friends at the ORP aren't exactly getting that done.

What in the world is going on with the House GOP Minority Caucus?

Too many politicians forgot how to fight in the decade-plus that they didn't have to do so... A few found "other things" to do... Those guys shall remain nameless in order to protect the innocent...and I'm not talking the politicians...

The only way it could be worse is if Husted were still calling the shots over there...

Who will be the next Senate President?

I agree that he has been fairly weak, but he's been a caretaker so far...Tom Niehaus is my guess. And yes, Steve Stivers ought to be kicking himself right about now.....

Where do things stand with Ted delivering more documents to Seth Morgan and the House?

I think Kyle is right...the Senate will ultimately punt and we'll lose yet another issue.

Who in their right mind would want to be on this Conference Committee?

Are there any Republicans left who want a gig in the Strickland administration?

Sorry...I answered a question with a question... I try so hard not to do that...

Where do things stand with the Husted residency issue?

Jenny Brunner is playing politics, but I think she will ultimately find Husted in compliance with the letter of the law. As for the spirit of the law...Husted's still got some 'splainin' to do...

Who will Kasich pick as an LG candidate?

Kyle would like to see Sandy O'Brien...and I like his reasoning... But Sandy is doing the Lord's Work by taking out Husted.

What in the world is Josh Mandel waiting for re: his announcement for Treasurer?

That is a very good question... I don't think Josh is really feeling any pressure to make a move yet. He has secured enough verbal support from party types across the state, maybe he feels safe enough to wait a bit longer before painting a target on himself. Maybe his stalker knows.....

Will a wild card emerge on the statewide scene?

So far, everybody is dancing to Kevin DeWine's tune...much to my chagrin, I assure you. Except for Sandy O'Brien...there's some fight left in that one...

If Husted wins his residency issue will Sandy O’Brien stay in the race or will she bow out?

I think she stays in...like me, her beef with Husted isn't over residency issues...that's just the cheese on top.

How funny was the Coughlin letter to Kevin DeWine?

Pretty darn funny...especially since there is a contingent in WMD-land who thinks that DeWine asked Coughlin to get in the race to wound Kasich so Husted has a clear field to run for governor after Ohio loses so much population we lose our status as a state.

How excited is Mary Taylor about the prospects of running against David Pepper?

I dunno...but I really like our chances!

Where did Petro go? What is he doing?

Who cares...really...I'm not interested in retreads...

Where is the Mike DeWine for AG announcement?

Hopefully, it is in the garbage can of history where it belongs. Seriously, when are these guys going to get the message? There is something to be said about the guy who realizes that his role is as retired elder statesman...

If Budish can get away with what he is getting away with in the House that begs the question can Ted, Boyce, Cordray & other dems also get away with these practices as well?

It seems to be working for them so far...no need to change the play when it is running so well.

Does Chabot beat Driehaus in a rematch?

Yes. I think so...

How about Stivers vs Kilroy?

Sadly, not so much...

What else am I missing?

Uhh...Spotlight Jones vs. Republican Leader, my Congressman and a Great American -- John Boehner. Yeah, my money is on Boehner too...

Republicans Request President Bush Intervene to Save the Delta Queen

Release:

WASHINGTON, DC – Republican lawmakers today sent a letter to President Bush asking that he issue an executive order to protect the Delta Queen against special-interest politics that could put the historic paddlewheel ship in dry-dock. Reps. John Boehner (R-West Chester), Steve Chabot (R-Westwood), Jean Schmidt (R-Miami Township) and Geoff Davis (R-Hebron) requested the President issue an executive order extending an exemption to the 1966 Safety at Sea Act to allow the Delta Queen to continue operating.

Boehner issued the following statement. Text of the letter appears below and is available here.

“For more than 60 years, the Delta Queen has been part of Cincinnati’s culture, recreating historic steamboat races during Tall Stacks and providing a unique hands-on opportunity to learn how the Ohio River has shaped this area. But politics now threatens to trump even history, as an exemption to maritime law that has been maintained by the federal government for 40 years to allow the historic steamboat to continue operating was killed this year by Congress in an effort to appease narrow special-interests. I am joining with my colleagues in the Cincinnati-area congressional delegation – Steve Chabot, Jean Schmidt and Geoff Davis – in urging President Bush to take action to restore the exemption and save the Delta Queen. Presidential action could be the last hope for saving this historic vessel, which has been a proud part of the Queen City’s culture for generations.”

120308 Delta Queen Letter

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

Deregulation vs. Lack of Oversight

PolitickerOH has a piece on a forum that was held with Rep. Steve Chabot (R), his Democratic challenger, Steve Driehaus and two Also Rans... I need to highlight one part of the debate that just irritates me and it deals with the Bailout:

Driehaus said that he disagrees with Chabot on how the financial trouble came to pass. Driehaus blamed de-regulation of the financial industry for its current troubles. Driehaus said that the tools have existed to crack down on predatory lending and mortgage-backed securities. Driehaus said that no action was taken, however, on these issues.

There is a difference between deregulation and a lack of oversight. Deregulation, in and of itself, is not a bad thing and it certainly wasn't the cause of the mess. Lack of oversight did occur and it is at the very heart of the cause of the mess.

A relaxing of regulations governing the operation of an industry isn't a bad thing. The problem is that with the lowering of standards came a responsibility -- on the part of Congress -- to watchdog the issue. How many times have Republicans tried to put reform of Freddie and Fannie on the table over the years only to be demagogued out of it. Sure, we can say -- in hindsight -- that when Republicans had control that they should have done something about it but that also ignores the fact that Democrats have controlled the chambers of Congress for nearly two years and have done...nothing. And they still haven't done anything to address the root causes of the problem.

Deregulation was not the problem here...the problem was a total lack of oversight on the part of Congress.

Bailout Recap

Unless you've been living in a cave, you know that yesterday the US House of Representatives failed to pass a bailout bill by a score of 228-205. Here is a round-up of statements, quotes, and reaction:

Did House Democrats even Whip the Financial Rescue vote? Good question...it looks like the answer is "no." Politico reported that the House Democratic Whip was not actually whipping this vote, and Rep. Peter DeFazio was on NPR saying that the Democratic Leadership let Members “vote their conscience” without party discipline on this important issue.

Rep. Bob Latta (OH-05): “Thanks to the hard work of Leader John Boehner and House Republican leadership, this bill has been tremendously improved upon from were it began last week. This bill took an unnecessary, expedited track through the legislative process. Because of this legislative fast track, there are still many unanswered questions and provisions within this bill that I cannot support. I firmly believe that Congress must do all it can to protect the taxpayers of this country. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in a bipartisan effort to further improve this legislation”

Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-04): “The situation in the nation’s financial markets is at the forefront of everyone’s mind, yet I do not believe that a three-quarter trillion dollar taxpayer-funded bailout was the answer.

Today, Congress missed the opportunity to unleash the nation’s entrepreneurial spirit, along with a wave of private capital and investment, to deal with the needs of the market in a truly American way.

Instead, $700 billion of taxpayer money was put towards a bailout that only serves to hurt our nation’s long-term financial health. It increases our national debt, increases the size of government, and moves us further down the road of unsustainable federal budget growth.

My support is with an alternative plan that would utilize private capital to solve the problem far better than government bureaucrats. By removing the barriers to risk-taking and investment, and providing a government-backed insurance program as a safety net, we would be laying the groundwork to avoid future problems.

I came to Washington to stand up for the interests of regular families and taxpayers who have already felt the impact of the market downturn. They should not be forced to shoulder the burden of those who created the bailout as well. This bill is characteristic of this tax-and-spend Congress, and one that I will continue fighting against.”

Rep. Jean Schmidt (OH-02): Schmidt said she voted against the bill because taxpayers need a better deal in which "every penny of their investment" is returned. Also, the bill did nothing to prevent the underlying problems "that caused this mess,'' she said.

"If you have a flat tire, you can't just fill it with air, you have to fix the hole first," Schmdit said.

Calls to the congresswoman's office had been running as high as 70 percent against the bailout proposal. (Source)

Rep. Steve Chabot (OH-01): Chabot said that while he believes Congress must work to stabilize the financial markets as quickly as possible, the legislation voted on Monday “would have placed an enormous burden on taxpayers” without making reforms needed to prevent a future financial emergency.

“This bill would set a dangerous precedent by forcing hard-working families to pay for the mistakes of businesses that acted irresponsibly,” Chabot said. (Source)

And here are a few "high" lights from Speaker Pelosi's floor speech:

· “Democrats believe in a free market. We know that it can create jobs, it can create wealth, it can create many good things in our economy. But in this case, in its unbridled form, as encouraged, supported, by the Republicans, some in the Republican Party, not all, it has created not jobs, not capital, it has created chaos.”

· “$700 billion. A staggering number. But only a part of the cost of the failed Bush economic policies to our country. Policies that were built on budget recklessness, when President Bush took office, he inherited President Clinton’s surpluses four years in a row, budget surpluses. On a trajectory of $5.6 trillion in surplus. And with his reckless economic policies, within two years, he had turned that around. Now eight years later, the foundation of that fiscal irresponsibility, combined with an anything goes economic policy, has taken us to where we are today. They claim to be free market advocates when it’s really an anything goes mentality. No regulation, no supervision, no discipline. And if you fail, you will have a golden parachute and the taxpayer will bail you out. Those days are over. The party is over.”

· “For too long this government, eight years, has followed a right-wing ideology of anything goes, no supervision, no discipline, no regulation.”

· “Before long we will have a new Congress, a new President of the United States, and we will be able to take our country in a new direction.”

Way to show the bipartisan spirit required in a situation like this! Did she wanted Republican votes on this thing or what? It sure doesn't sound like it to me. She chose to take the opportunity to attack Republicans and appeal to her liberal base, rather than working to get the bill done for the American people.

Ohio Update

Here are a few notes and stories from Ohio...

OH-01: Steve Chabot thinks that Driehaus is actually an easier opponent than his last race. That last bout was one for the ages, and if anybody can pull this thing out, it's Steve Chabot.

Gov. Strickland: You stay classy, T-Shirt Ted. Question: Will Obama rebuke T-Shirt Ted for this despicable comments?

More of the Same From Gov. Strickland on Ohio's Economy: Check out this water-carrying piece in the Dispatch... This stuff doesn't work even if T-Shirt Ted is the one proposing it instead of Bob Taft.

Ohio GOP on Blackwell: I'm hoping that this didn't sound as cynical in person as it was reported. PolitickerOH's Justin is usually a pretty fair guy, but these quotes from communication director John McClelland are just awful.

#dontGo Update

Rep. Steve Chabot:

“It’s not just a matter of we’re for drilling and they’re (Democrats) are for renewable fuels. We’re all for renewables. We just want the Speaker to call back Congress for a vote.”

“If you agree that we should be working on solving energy issues then call your Member of Congress and tell them to take an active role in this effort.”

House Passes Bipartisan Darfur Resolution

From the Rep. Steve Chabot e-newsletter:

The House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution sponsored by Congressman Chabot condemning recent fatal attacks on United Nations-African Union peacekeepers in the Darfur region of Sudan.

The resolution also expresses support for the UN-AU peacekeepers and the UNAMID mission, as well as condolences to the families of those killed and wounded in the attacks and a renewed commitment to helping the refugees in Darfur. It calls upon the Sudanese government to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and urges the international community to contribute the resources necessary to ensure the success of the mission.

Last August, Congressman Chabot traveled to Darfur to assess the ongoing humanitarian crisis and view the refugee camps in Sudan.

Darfur is another one of those pesky little issues that just isn't going anyway any time soon. At some point, somebody is going to have to do something... The only question is whether or not it will take 12 years and 17 resolutions before that happens.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Lou Holtz Fundraiser for Steve Chabot

This just in...

Lou Holtz, will be visiting Cincinnati on Saturday, July 26 to support [Steve Chabot's] re-election efforts.

Coach Holtz recruited Steve from LaSalle to play football for him at the College of William & Mary. Holtz moved on from William & Mary shortly after Steve's first season to coach some of the greatest teams and players in football history, including some of southwest Ohio's very own.

The event will be held at Paul Brown Stadium and begins with a private reception at 2:30pm. The general reception begins at 3:30pm.

Call 481-9998 for more information.

Rep. Chabot: Petition to Stop Planned Parenthood in OH-01

This just in...

Protecting the sanctity of life has always been, and will continue to be, one of my top priorities as a member of Congress.

You may have heard that I recently launched a petition drive to oppose Planned Parenthood’s expansion to their new West Side facility at 2016 Ferguson Ave. This move would place them within walking distance to many of our schools—allowing them to target our children.

I believe this expansion is an affront to our community, our values, and most importantly our children. I’d like to invite you to join me and voice your opposition to their calculated move.

Click here to sign the petition today and send Planned Parenthood a clear message-- together we will protect our children and our community.

OH-01 Congressional Art Contest Winner

I try to post these whenever I get them...

High School Senior Wins Congressional Art Contest

Congressman Chabot honored Sarah Reed of Sayler Park for winning the Congressional Art Competition for the First District of Ohio. Ms. Reed, a graduating senior from Gilbert A. Dater High School, won the competition with her digital graphic design entitled “Blocks.” Her winning entry will be displayed for the next year in a busy pedestrian corridor that leads to the U.S. Capitol.



The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition.

The Latest ATR Ratings are Out

How did the Ohio delegation do in the Americans for Tax Reform's latest ratings (PDF)? Excellent question. Here's the answer:

OH-01: Chabot (R) - 100%
OH-02: Schmidt (R) - 100%
OH-03: Turner (R) - 85%
OH-04: Jordan (R) - 100%
OH-05: Latta (R) - 75% (partial term)
OH-06: Wilson (D) - 10%
OH-07: Hobson (R) - 85%
OH-08: Boehner (R) - 100%
OH-09: Kaptur (D) - 0%
OH-10: Kucinich (D) - 5%
OH-11: Tubbs-Jones - 5%
OH-12: Tiberi (R) - 95%
OH-13: Sutton (D) - 0%
OH-14: LaTourette (R) - 75%
OH-15: Pryce (R) - 90%
OH-16: Regula (R) - 70%
OH-17: Ryan (D) - 0%
OH-18: Space (D) - 5%

Chabot, Schmidt, Jordan, and Boehner are to be commended for PERFECT records...

Honorable Mentions: Tiberi and Pryce

Golden Donut Award: Kaptur, Sutton, and Ryan

Dishonorable Mentions: Wilson, Kucinich, Tubbs-Jones, and Space

UPDATE: The race is on to see which one of the two local bloggers picks this up and makes a very valid point about one of the Members of Congress mentioned above.....

Ask WMD: 08POTUS and Down Ticket Races

An Anonymous commenter asked this question last week:

What effect do you guys think having Obama/Mccain at the top of the ticket will do to the local Congressional races? I just read the story on Politics Extra about Chabot's chances in the fall with Obama bringing out new voters in droves. Do you think the democrats out east who heavily support Clinton over Obama will stay home, or will the vote republican?

Clearly, Barry Hussein O'Carter will bring out the drones in droves; but I don't think his appeal will be as broad as some may think. Obama isn't likely to appeal to much of the Purple Counties here in Ohio, for instance, as his values don't match up with theirs in most instances.

Steve Chabot, in OH-01, might be in some trouble as that is the only Purple County district that I see where the momentum shifts in Obama's favor; but there is no guarentee that Obama voters won't vote for Chabot anyway. Chabot has lived in this district forever and has worked very hard on their behalf. His fundraising prowess is exceeded only by the number of hours he's put in shaking hands and kissing babies. While the demographics of the district are changing, I think Chabot has at least one more cycle left before the numbers turn against him.

As for Democrats "out east" who support Commodore Decker's Planet Killer now... I think the quantity of those voters will dwindle with time, but I do think that there is a significant number of them who are likely to sit it out or vote McCain. Will that be enough? I'd like to think so, but I'm more confident that when the time comes those folks are going to return to form and vote for the guy with the "D" at the end of his name.

Mark? Sean? Any thoughts? Readers, have at it in the comments...